Incubator.



No. 678,053. Patented luly 9, |901.

A. A. sKlNNEn. l

INGUBATOR.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 678,053. l Patented.lu|y 9, |901.

A. A. SKINNER'. A

mcus'ATon.

(Appxicaeion am sap. 2e 1900.;

3 sheets-snee: 2,

(No Model.)

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No. 678,053. Patented my 9, |9ol.

A. A. sKmNEn.

IVNCUBATB.

l Y {Applicltion filed Sept.. 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBA A: sK'iN'N/Ert, 'er eaEENE, -NEw YORK.

riliicuen'rorx.

srsctmoanroit forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,053, dated July 9, 1901. Application tuta september 2s, 1900'. stati No. 31,401.' (no man To @ZZ whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBA A. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greene, in the county of Ohenango and State of New York, have invented certain n'eW and useful Improvements in Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

Nearly all ot' the incubators in use prior to my invention provided foi-'heating the eggs by means of hot air, and' in order that the eggs need not be dried used evaporating-pans to supply the requisite amount of vapor to keep the air moist.

One object of my invention is to provide an incubator in which the necessary warmth is applied to the tops of the eggs by direct contact between the eggs and a soft heatingsurface in the same. manner as warmth is applied to eggs by a sitting hen and to dispense with evaporating-pans, the eggsbeing ventilated without being dried by devices which, while supplying the eggs with lfresh air and carrying off the foul air, do not dry or chill the eggs nor'overheat them.

In those incubators which depend on heated air to supply the necessary warmth the eggs are subjected to unequal temperature when the trays are withdrawn to turn the eggs or for other purposes-71, e., the opening of the incubator causes the temperature to fall Within the hatching-chamber and'some little time elapses after the incubator is closed before the normal temperature is regained.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the temperature is maintained without variation.

Other objects of my invention are to provide improved devices for regulating the temperature,improved means for reading the temperature, and improved devices for supporting the eggs and for withdrawing them from the hatching-chamber for inspection or for other purposes.

These are thel main objects of my invention; but I also desire to improve the general construction of incubators and to provide means for not only efficiently performing the operation of hatching, but for rendering the care of the incubator easier and more certain.

In carrying out my invention I provide a ltray of an -improved construction, on which the eggs are supported, and support this tray on a drawer within which` is a large ventilating-c'hamber below the tray. The drawer supporting the tray is in lturn supported on slides, which may be adjusted to lower the drawer and tray and to support them either when in position to hold the eggs in the hatching-chamber or to hold them outside the hatching-chamber. Overthe trayisarranged 6o a heater consisting of a closed metal tank with abottom of rubber or other exible material, the under surface of which is in direct contact with the tops of the eggs. The tank is filled with water, and after being filled is hermetically sealed, so that there is no internal pressure tending. to expand the eXible bottom, which is maintained in a substantially l level or horizontal position by means of external air-pressure. .In order to heat the wa- 7o ter in the tank, I provide circulating-pipes, which are preferably connected with a boiler heated by a lamp, which latter is provided with devices for regulating the flame to maintain the proper temperature. A thermostat of an improved construct-ion is arranged within the water-tank and is connected with the devices for regulating the flame. In order to read the temperature, I provide a thermometer which is so arranged as to bear against the 8o iiexible bottom ofthe tank, and is thus subject to the same temperature as the eggs with Which the flexible bottom is in contact. The `tray supporting the eggs, as before stated, is arranged over a Ventilating-chamber which is of large area and is provided with escapeholes in its bottom for the discharge of foul air, while fresh air is conveyed into the chamber by means of pipes which discharge near the upper portion thereof, so that the fresh airis 9o distributed among the eggs above the foul air, which latter is discharged at the bottom of the chamber, as before stated. The general organization of the apparatus, together with the details of construction, will be hereinafter more fully described. In the accompanying drawii 1gs,Figu.re` lis a perspective view of an incubator embodying my improvements.v Fig.^2 shows a llon'- gitudinal central section therethrough on the roo line 2 2 of Fig. 3, the legs or standards being partly broken away. Fig. 9v shows a central transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig.'2 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig.

4 is a perspective view of the eggsupporting tray. drawer forsupporting the egg-tray and which contains the Ventilating-chamber. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my improved thermostat. Fig. 7 is a detail View illustrating the connections between the thermostat and the lamp-regulating devices. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the thermostat, and Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the heating-pipes in the tank.

The main frarne of the incubator may be of any suitable construction so long as it is adapted to support the working parts of my improved apparatus. As shown, there are four legs or standards A, connected at front and rear by longitudinal boards B B' and at each side by cross pieces C C. The up per part of the incubator above the egg-tray is inclosed by a front piece D, a back piece D', and side pieces E E'. A top or cover F is hinged at f to a board F', running longitudinally along the back of the incubator and secured to the top of the back piece D' and to the top of the back legs A. The cover is provided with windows G and may be held elevated by means of a brace G? of wellknown construction. (Illustrated in'Fig. l.)

The egg-supporting tray H comprises a frame preferably made of three longitudinal pieces ZL and five cross-pieces Zt. On the top of this frame wire-netting H is secured, and preferably a longitudinal strip II2 is secured over the netting above the central longitudinal strip h. I also secure to the bottom of the frame thin strips h3. These are secured by devices which may be readily loosened, so

that the strips may be removed when required. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide means for raising and lowering the tray to accommodate eggs of dierent sizes. When hens eggs are used, the strips h3 are secured in place on the bot-v tom of the frame, but when ducks eggs are to be hatched the strips h3 are removed, thus allowing the tray7 to be supported at a lower elevation. The tray rest-s in a drawer I. (Shown in Fig. 5.) This is composed of four boards forming the front and rear and two opposite sides, a bottom piece il', and four top pieces 2. The top pieces are secured to the outsides of the front and rear and side pieces and project above them, thus forming a ledge 3, on which the tray rests. The front top piece 2 is provided at opposite ends with extensions overlapping the front legs A, as shown in Fig. l. Handles 4 are secured to the front top piece 2, and stops 5 are secured to the rear top piece 2. At each corner of the drawer the bottom is formed with a hole 6, through which foul air escapes, and pret'- erably near the center of the bottom piece I arrange tubes l2, which extend up into the drawer, preferably to the level of the ledge 3. Air passes up into the tubes through the bottom of the drawer, as illustrated in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the,

and it passes from the tops of the tubes and is distributed among the eggs.

The drawer is supported on slides J, which have straight horizontal upper surfaces and inclined lower surfaces j. Each of the slides is formed with two inclined slots jji, into which project rollers secured to the main frame and which support the slides. One roller K for each slide is secured to one of the front legs A, while another roller for each slide is secured to one of the side pieces C C. The rollers project through the slots and are iianged,as shown. When the slides are pushed in, their front and rear ends rest upon the cross-pieces B and B, and thus relieve the rollers from weight. While the slides are being withdrawn and when withdrawn they are supported entirely by the rollers. By this arrangement when the slides are pushed in the drawer I and the tray H, carried thereby, are held at the highest elevation. Vhen the slides are pulled out a short distance, the drawer and tray are lowered. By pulling out both the slides and the drawer the eggs may be withdrawn from the hatching-chamber and displayed in front of the incubator.

In order to prevent the drawer from being opened before it is lowered, I secure to the back of' the drawer one or more stops 5, which when the drawer is closed and elevated project behind the back piece D. VVhemhowever, the drawer is lowered, the stops clear the back piece and the drawer may be pulled out.

Immediately above the egg-tray is arranged a hot-water tank L, the sides and top of which are preferably made of sheet metal, such as copper, while the bottom is made of some flexible material, such as sheet-rubber packing. The lower edges of the sides are flanged at Z, the fianges projecting outwardly, and the edges of the sheet-rubber Z are secured to these flanges. The flanges Z project beneath the edges of the front and rear and side pieces D D and E E', and the edges of the sheet-rubber are secured beneath the flanges by means of strips of vmetal Z2 and screws or other securing devices Z3. Vhite lead or other suitable substance may be employed in addition to provide a water-tight packing. The tank is closed hermetically, so that when filled with water there is no internal pressure beyond the weight of the water, and the arrangement is such that the rubber bottom is maintained at all times in a substantially horizontal position and does not sag nor bag nor permit undue weight to be applied to the eggs which are in Contact with it, as will be hereinafter described. It is desirable that the iiexible bottom should be in a substantially horizontal position, as by this means a uniform temperature is applied to the eggs. It' the bottom were not horizontal and the water in the tank varied in depth, a varying temperature would be imparted to the eggs. It is important that the tank should be hermetieall y sealed, as before stated, because IOO . water in the tank, but merely provide means crepes 3 if an egg were pipped and undue weightwere.

forced upon it it would be prematurely crushed and the chick wouldnot be able to withdraw from the shell. filled with water through an opening in the top thereof provided with a screw-cap L. At

' one end the tank is provided with a cock Z5,

by which means the level of the water may be lowered, if desired, or `some of the water drawn out should the pressure be too great or the flexible bottom tendto bulge. In order to heat the water in the tank, I provide pipesV for circulating hot water, these pipes being preferably arranged as shown in Fig. v9. There are two inlet-pipes M and a single discharge-pipe M. The inlet-pipes extend from one side of the tank to the other near the front and rear portions thereof. The outlet-pi pe M is-near the middle ofthe tank and is connected with the inlet-pipes M attheir inner ends by branch pipes m. All the pi pesare preferably arranged near the bottom of the tank, just over the flexible bottom Z. It will thus be seen that the heating medium passes first along the edge of the tank, which is most likely to be cool,whi1e itpasses out of the tank along the central portion thereof, which is more apt to be always warm. It will be seen that I do not introduce hot water directly into the tank,-

and therefore do not vary the pressure of the for keeping the water Warm without increasing its pressure.l The inlet-pipes M are each connected with a boiler N, heated by a lamp O. The outlet-pipe is connected to a pipe P, coupled at p to the lower portion of the boiler. The boiler may be of any usual construction, and the lampis supported beneath the boiler on a bracket R, which is hinged at r to one of the rear legs and is supported at its front end by a supporting device S. This preferably consists of a block s, pivoted to one of the front legs A and arranged between this leg and a guides. The block s is pivoted at its lower end and near its upper end it is provided With a stops? When in the position shown in Fig. 1, the bracket is supported so as to hold the lamp in properv position beneath the boiler to heat it. By swinging the block on its pivot thebracket may be lowered and the lamp removed. In order to holdthe tank firmly in place, I secure strips c to the inside of the front and rear and side pieces D D E E, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to read the temperature, I provide a .thermometer T. This is arranged on a block t, preferably of triangular shape in longitudinal section, as shown inv Fig. l3. The block bearing the thermometer is vinserted through an opening in the front piece 112 of the drawer. The bulb of the thermometer is arranged to 4bear against the flexible bottom ofthe tank,

and the block is supported at its innerend by means of a spring t2. The spring bearing against the inner end of the block near the bulb presses the bulb up against the exible The tank may be4 eggs the exact temperature of the eggs may,

be readily determined. Y I

The arrangement of the apparatus is such that in normal operation the heat isquite uniform; but nevertheless, owing to various contingencies, it is necessary to provide auto- Y matic means for regulating the temperature.

The means very generally used is a device for regulating the flame of the lamp by means of a thermostat. I have provided improved devices for adjusting the llame of the lamp. The thermostat U is arranged in a .case V, extending longitudinally through the tank L. The interior of the case has no communication with the tank. It is water-tightvand open atopposite ends, and it extends through openings t: in the side pieces E E. The details of the thermostat are shown in Fig'. 6. In constructing this thermostat I employ a tube u, having a curvedl lflattened portion u'. Y

In one end of the tube is secured a plug u2,

having a tapered opening a3 closed by a ta-Y pered stopper r1.4. On the outer end of the plug ragis secured a metal tube a5, which may be adjusted on the plug. Arod Wis secured to the end of the tube 'a5 by means of cement or other suitable substance. The innerV end as of the tube is secured lto a pivoted block X. This block is pivoted at a; to. a metal plate X', which is in turn secured to a basepiece X2.

adapted to y move therewith. A spring mf draws the block X in one direction, while the block may be adjusted in the opposite direction by means of a rod a?, extending through a plate :c3 on the end of the base-piece and provided with an adj usting-nut x4. By this arrangement the tube vand the rod W maybe adjusted. The tube .is lled with alcohol or other suitable substance that will be sensitive to variations in temperature. As the heat increases thecurved flattened portion IOO The end u@ of the iiattened porvtion ofthe tube is hermeticallyse'aled, and the tube being supported by the block X isY IIO of the tube will tend to'straighten out, and y will thus give a corresponding movement to the rod W. When the temperature decreases,

the curved fiattened portion of the tube will p tend to curve, and thus produce an opposite movement to lthe rod W. By means of'the tube 'a5 `the length of the rod W relatively to4 the tube u may be varied. The base-piece X2 is secured in the chamberV. The plate 003 is arranged outside the side piece E', as shown in Fig. 2,the adjusting-screw m4 being within convenient reach of the attendant. ranging the thermostat in a casing within the tank I provide against subjecting the thermostat to unequal temperatures, which would tend to unnecessarily raise and lower the ilame Bythus arof the lamp. When the draweris opened, cool air is admitted, and if this cool air came in contact with the thermostat it would operate it to vary the llame; but in my apparatus the opening of the drawer does not cause such a variation of temperature in the air surrounding the thermostat as to appreciably affect it. It will also be observed that when the drawer is opened and cool air enters into the ventilating-chamber the heating-surface is not materially lowered in temperature. soon as the drawer is closed and the eggs are brought into contact with the heating-surface they immediately receive the normal heat requisite for incubation. In other incubators some little time elapses before the eggs are subjected to the proper atmosphere, while in my apparatus they are immediately subjected to the proper temperature. The end of the rod XV projects through the opening o in the side piece E and also through an opening y in a plate Y, attached to the ontside of the side piece E by means of screws V fg', extending through slots in the plate Y. Just above the outer end of the rod YV is mounted a rock-shaft Z, pivoted at a to the side piece E and at z' to a standard s2, secured to one of the pipes M. This rock-shaft is provided with an arm z3, to which is connected a link s, in turn connected with a sleeve Z2, which is adapted to Vary the iiame of the lamp to increase and decrease the heat. This device is of well-known construction and need not be described in detail. The end of the rod WV extends through a looped Wire ys, attached to the under side of the rock-shaft Z. The arrangement is such that when the thermostat is expanded or contracted a horizontal motion is given to the rod W, and this motion is imparted through the loop g3 to the rock-shaft Z, which correspondingly moves the arm s3 and the link s4 and by the connections shown in Fig. 7 raises or lowers the sleeve Z2. The opening o in the side piece E is made quite large, while the opening y in the plate Y is somewhat smaller; but in order that the end of the rod W may be properly located at all times in the opening g/ the plate Y is made adjustable by the screws gjthat is to say, the plate Y may be slid horizontally in either direction, so that the movement of the rod W' may not be unduly impeded, and yet the plate should be so adjusted that the rod WV shall not move too far in either direction, so as to either raise or lower the sleeve Z2 too much. The eggs, it will be observed, are in direct contact with the flexible bottom l of the heating-tank, and thus obtain warmth therefrom in a manner similar to that in which eggs receive warmth from a sitting hen. The apparatus does not depend upon the circulation of heated air, and no evaporating-pans need be employed in the apparatus, fresh air being admitted just under the egg-tray and distributed among the eggs. The foul air naturally descends and passes out through the openings 'crepes in the bottom of the drawer. The drawer is made somewhat deep, so as to facilitate this operation. It will be observed that there is a space between the top of the tank L and the bottom of the cover, and this may be employed as a nursery for young chicks just after they are hatched. 'If desired, the top of the metal tank may be covered with felt or some other suitable substance, and this chamber may also be used for starting fresh eggs before they are placed upon the tray. The arrangement is such that the tray holds the eggs just high enough to cause them to bear gently against the bottom Z. Where hens eggs are used, the strips h3 are employed to hold the tray at the proper elevation. Where larger eggs, such as ducks eggs, are used, these strips are removed, so that the tray is held slightly lower, but sufficiently high to provide the required contactbetween the eggs under the heating-surface.

I claim as my invention- 1. An incubator provided with a tray for supporting the eggs,andahermetically-sealed tank containing a heating medium below atmospheric pressure and provided With a ilexible bottom in direct contact with the eggs.

2. An incubator provided with a tray for supporting the eggs,and a hermetically-sealed tank containing a heating medium and provided with a straight horizontal flexible bottom in direct contact with the eggs.

8. An incubator provided with a'tray foi' supporting the eggs, a tank containing Water and provided with a filling-orifice closed by a cover, and a draw-off cock, a flexible bottom for the tank, and pipes arranged within the tank through which a heating medium circulates Without increasing the pressure in the tank.

4. An incubator provided with atank, having a flexible bottom, and circulating-pipes for the heating medium within the tank, two of said pipes beinginlet-pipes and conveying the heating medium along the opposite sides of the tank, one of said pipes being centrally arranged between the inlet-pipes and adapted to discharge the heating medium, said outletpipe being connected with the two inlet-pipes by branch pipes.

5. The combination of aheating-tank having a liexible bottom and a thermometer, the bulb of which is arranged in contact with the flexible bottom of the tank.

6. The combination of a heating-tank having a exible bottom, a thermometer projecting from the outside into the hatching-chamber, and a spring for pressing the bulb of the thermometer against the flexible bottom of the tank.

7. The combination of a heatingtank,a casing within the tank, a thermostat Within said casing, heating mechanismand connections between the thermostat and the heating mechanism.

8. The combination of a heating-tank, a cas- IIO ing arranged within the tank, a thermostat' within the casing, devices at one end of the casing for adjusting the therm ostat, a heater, and connections between the heater and the thermostat.

9. The combination of aheating-tank, a casing within the tank open at opposite ends, a thermostat removable endwise from the casing, devices outside the casing for adjustingv the thermostat,a heater, and connections between the thermostat and the heater.

10. The combination of a thermostat having a vibrating rod, a slotted plate through which the rod projects, devices for adjusting the plate, a heater, and connections between the thermostat-rod and the heater.

1l. Thecombinationofathermostathaving a vibrating rod, a rock-shaft, a heater, an arm on the rock-shaft connected with the heater, and connections between the rockshaft and the thermostat-rod.

12. The combination of a drawer for sup` porting an egg-tray, the slides on which the drawer rests, and devices for lowering .the slides and withdrawing them, to permit the lowering and withdrawal of the drawer with the tray.

.13. The combination of an egg-tray, ar

drawer on which the tray rests, the slides having straight upper surfaces on which the drawer. is supported, and inclined slots, and rollers supported on the main frame projecting into the slot-s.

14. The combination with a tray for supporting the eggs, of a Ventilating-chamber be- 'low the tray having an exit-opening in the bottom, and a tube having its lower end onv approximately the same level as the exit-open-V ing open to the atmosphere and extending to 4o near the top of the Ventilating-chamber and terminating below the tray, for admitting fresh air at normal temperature.

15. The combination of an egg tray, a drawer on which the tray is supported, slides on which the drawer rests and which have in' 45 clined slots, rollers supported on the main frame extending through the slots, and a stop on the drawer engagingthe main frame to prevent the opening of the drawer until it is lowered.

16. The combination of aheating-tank having a flexible bottom, an egg-traybelow the tank which holds the eggs in contact with the llexible bottom,a drawer on which the egg-tray is supported, the slides on which the drawer rests and which have inclined slots, and rollwardly to near the top of the ventilating-chamY ber and'terminating below the tray.

18. The combination of a tray for support; ing the eggs, a heater arranged above the tray,

'a Ventilating-chamber below the tray having je an exit-opening in the bottom, and a tube for admitting fresh air at normal temperature,

extending up to near the top of the ventilating-chamber and terminatingbelow the tray.

In testimony whereot` I have hereunto sub 7 5 

